His Holiness the Dalai Lama returns to India after Japan visit

His Holiness the Dalai Lama returns to India after Japan visit[Sunday, 8 November 2009, 9:23 a.m.]

His Holiness the Dalai Lama leaves for India after wrapping a nine-day tour of Japan on 7 November 2009. His Holiness for the first time visited the provinces of Shikoku and Okinawa/Photo by Tenzin Choejor

Dharamshala: His Holiness the Dalai Lama returned to India yesterday after concluding a nine-day visit to Japan.On the last day of his 13th visit to the island nation, His Holiness met briefly with Tibetans living in Japan.Advising
the small gathering to ‘always remember that they were representatives
of Tibetan in Tibet,’ His Holiness the Dalai Lama said, “small internal
problems should never eclipse our larger interest. Meet often, be
transparent and talk.”Paying obeisance to the sacrifices
Tibetans in Tibet continue to make, His Holiness said, “it is their
sacrifices and integrity that has kept the issue of Tibet alive in the
world today.”His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited Japan at the
invitation of Shikoku Buddhist Association (Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi,
Tokushima) and Okinawa Mahabodhi Association.During his
nine-days of stay, His Holiness paid visits to pilgrimage sites and met
with the public for talks and discussions on several occasions in four
different provinces.His Holiness also met various religious leaders and Japanese lawmakers in private capacity.“We
are very fortunate to be able to seek blessings and listen to our
leader in a free country. We will try our best to fulfill the ultimate
aspiration of the Tibetan people of seating His Holiness back on the
lion-throne in Potala Palace,” said Tsering, a Tibetan living in Japan
after the brief talk.Speaking to the visiting group of Tibetan
journalists from Dharamsala, founder chairman of the Parliamentarians
Group for Tibet of the Diet, the Japanese Parliament, Makino Seisyo
said, “I am hopeful that now with Yukio Hatoyama as the Prime Minister,
Japan will be more supportive of the reconciliatory approach of the
Dalai Lama.”“I wish one day Japan will officially invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama to visit our country,” Makino added.His
Holiness the Dalai Lama has left New Delhi Sunday for a week-long visit
to the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Agence
France Press reported that preparations have been underway for two
months, with the Tawang monastery receiving a facelift and regular
prayers being held across Arunachal for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s
safe journey.